Best in-ear headphones in 2020

Top 5 Best In-Ear headphones

1. JBL C150SI

C150SI is a JBL brand of in-ear headphones with relatively good quality that you should consider to choose for yourself at present.

The most impressive point in this product comes from its neat design. The luxurious design with a curved oval shape and an outer layer covered with silicone ear cushions provide a soft feel so you can use it comfortably for a full day without ear pain.

Like most other JBL headphones, the C150SI is also audio-focused. Thanks to the integrated 9mm driver technology and the audio frequency range in the range of 20Hz-20kHz, the sound quality is quite good, stable but no less powerful.

The headset supports the popular 3.5mm jack to connect well with a smartphone, tablet, or laptop device, calculator, and compatible with Android and iOS operating systems. The 1.2m cable is made of high elastic material, which prevents tangling and twisting.

In addition, the built-in microphone on the headset makes it easy to receive and calls with just one button or comfortable to adjust the volume as you like.

Design and Build Quality

The JBL C150SI headphones feature a streamlined design that combines functionality with aesthetic appeal, catering to users seeking reliable audio performance in a compact form factor.

Ergonomics and Comfort

The C150SI is crafted with user comfort in mind, featuring:

• Ergonomic Ear-tips: Soft silicone ear-tips provide a secure fit and comfortable seal, minimizing external noise interference and enhancing audio clarity.
• Lightweight Construction: The lightweight design ensures comfort during prolonged listening sessions, making the C150SI suitable for daily commutes, workouts, and casual listening.
• Tangle-Free Cable: The flat cable design prevents tangling and ensures hassle-free storage and use, contributing to overall user convenience.

Durability and Build Materials

JBL emphasizes durability in the construction of the C150SI, utilizing quality materials that withstand daily wear and tear. The earphones are built to last, featuring robust housings and a reinforced cable that enhances longevity and reliability. The sturdy build ensures resilience against physical impacts and extends the lifespan of the headphones, making them a dependable choice for active lifestyles.

Audio Quality

The JBL C150SI headphones deliver balanced audio performance tailored for various music genres and multimedia content.

Sound Signature

1. Bass Response: The C150SI boasts enhanced bass response, providing depth and impact to low-frequency sounds without overpowering midrange and treble frequencies. Bass enthusiasts will appreciate the pronounced low-end presence for genres like hip-hop, EDM, and rock.
2. Midrange Clarity: Clear midrange frequencies ensure vocals and instrumental melodies are well-defined, contributing to a detailed and immersive listening experience across different music genres.
3. High-Frequency Detail: The headphones maintain clarity in high-frequency ranges, offering crisp treble notes and transient details that enhance the overall audio fidelity.

Noise Isolation and Ambient Sound

The C150SI’s snug fit and silicone ear-tips provide effective noise isolation, reducing ambient noise for immersive listening in noisy environments. This feature enhances audio clarity and minimizes distractions, allowing users to focus on their music or multimedia content without external interruptions.

Features and Functionality

The JBL C150SI headphones incorporate practical features that enhance usability and convenience for everyday use.

Universal Remote Control and Microphone

1. In-line Remote: The integrated remote allows users to control playback, adjust volume, and manage calls effortlessly without accessing their mobile device. This functionality adds convenience during hands-free use, making the C150SI ideal for multitasking and on-the-go lifestyles.
2. Built-in Microphone: The microphone enables clear voice capture for hands-free calls, voice commands, and online gaming communications. The microphone’s sensitivity and noise-cancelling capabilities ensure crisp audio transmission during calls and virtual meetings.

Compatibility

The C150SI headphones are compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and portable media players. The universal 3.5mm audio jack ensures broad compatibility with both iOS and Android devices, facilitating seamless connectivity without additional adapters or configurations.

Comfort and Fit

Comfort is a priority in the design of the JBL C150SI headphones, ensuring a snug and secure fit for extended listening sessions.

Ear-tips and Seal

The headphones come with multiple sizes of silicone ear-tips (small, medium, large), allowing users to find the perfect fit that enhances comfort and audio performance. The ergonomic design of the ear-tips creates a tight seal in the ear canal, improving noise isolation and preventing sound leakage.

Long-term Wearability

The lightweight construction and ergonomic design of the C150SI contribute to long-term wearability, minimizing ear fatigue and discomfort during prolonged use. Users can enjoy extended listening sessions without experiencing pressure points or discomfort, making the headphones suitable for daily use at home, work, or on the move.

2. Xiaomi Mi Headphone Pro HD

Xiaomi Mi Headphone Pro HD is Xiaomi’s mid-range earbuds that you can also consider. Although the product has a relatively compact and dynamic design, finishing in terms of design is quite high with an aluminum earphone cover against dirt and sweat.

The Mi Headphone Pro HD is designed in the ear canal style with a 45-degree inclination angle to minimize outside noise. Support 3.5mm jack, the strap is made of 1.2m length TPE material with good heat resistance, good strength, high elasticity, and safety for the user health.

Thanks to the integrated Bignardi advanced equalizer that helps filter and eliminate noise extremely effectively. Optimized speaker circuit, with parameters including 5mW power, frequency range from 20Hz – 40,000Hz will give high-quality audio output, strong and sharp Bass.

In addition, the combination of the control system with the dual dynamic sensor and the graphene dual membrane will keep the sound output always low and give the most pleasant feeling for the listener.

Note: For iPhone phones, the volume up button will not work, so if you are using an iPhone, you should consider this issue.

where can you get a Xiaomi Mi Headphone Pro HD online

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3. Mi Basic Xiaomi HSEJ03JY

If the budget to buy your earphones is not much, somewhere only about $15, the Xiaomi HSEJ03JY will be an ideal choice. Although the product line of cheap in-ear headphones, Xiaomi HSEJ03JY will still meet the basic entertainment needs.

In terms of design, Xiaomi HSEJ03JY still inherits a lot of points from the old version. Still compact design with many youthful tones and extremely personality for you to choose from, such as silver, blue and black.

Outside the earpiece is a high-grade, soft silicone that feels comfortable even when wearing headphones for long periods. Particularly, cables made from kevlar synthetic material are strong and durable over time.

Located on the frequency range of 20Hz-20,000Hz and the sensitivity is 101dB, Xiaomi HSEJ03JY will naturally produce a sound output of quite good quality. In addition, the strap also integrated microphone and volume up and down buttons to support listening to music.

Equipped with a volume control button, handling music – video playback on smartphones compatible with other devices and microphones for easier listening and calling.

where can you get a Mi Basic Xiaomi HSEJ03JY online

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Design and Build Quality

The Xiaomi Mi Headphones Pro HD feature a sophisticated design crafted to appeal to discerning audiophiles and music enthusiasts alike. Let’s explore its design elements and build quality:

Aesthetics and Materials

The Mi Headphones Pro HD showcase a minimalist aesthetic with a blend of metal and high-quality plastics, exuding a premium feel. The use of brushed metal accents and matte finishes enhances the headphones’ visual appeal, making them both stylish and durable. The attention to detail in craftsmanship reflects Xiaomi’s commitment to quality, ensuring a refined appearance that complements any modern lifestyle.

Comfort and Ergonomics

1. Ear-cup Design: The headphones feature over-ear ear cups with plush memory foam padding, providing a comfortable fit that seals out external noise and enhances bass response. The ergonomic design ensures even weight distribution and minimizes pressure points, facilitating extended listening sessions without discomfort.
2. Adjustable Headband: The adjustable headband is reinforced with metal for durability and flexibility, accommodating various head sizes and ensuring a secure fit. The padded headband enhances comfort and stability, making the Mi Headphones Pro HD suitable for prolonged use.

Cable and Connectors

1. Detachable Cable: The Mi Headphones Pro HD come with a detachable audio cable, offering versatility and ease of replacement. The cable features a durable braided design that minimizes tangling and enhances longevity, ideal for daily use and travel.
2. Gold-plated Connectors: The headphone cable terminates in gold-plated 3.5mm connectors, ensuring reliable audio transmission and compatibility with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and audio interfaces.

Audio Quality

The Xiaomi Mi Headphones Pro HD prioritize audio fidelity with a focus on delivering high-resolution sound reproduction across various music genres and media content.

Driver Technology

1. Dynamic Drivers: The headphones feature 40mm dynamic drivers engineered to reproduce detailed sound with clarity and precision. The drivers’ wide frequency response (20Hz – 40kHz) captures intricate audio nuances, from deep bass notes to sparkling high frequencies, enhancing overall musicality and immersion.
2. Dual Chamber Acoustic System: Xiaomi incorporates a dual chamber acoustic design in the Mi Headphones Pro HD, optimizing airflow and acoustic tuning to minimize distortion and enhance bass impact. This design innovation contributes to a balanced audio signature with robust lows and clear midrange frequencies.

Sound Signature

1. Balanced Frequency Response: The Mi Headphones Pro HD deliver a balanced sound signature that emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and natural tonal balance. The headphones excel in reproducing vocals with lifelike detail and instrumentals with spatial depth, making them suitable for critical listening and audiophile-grade enjoyment.
2. Bass Performance: The headphones’ dynamic drivers excel in reproducing deep, controlled bass without overwhelming other frequencies, catering to genres like electronic, hip-hop, and rock music where bass impact is essential yet well-defined.

Noise Isolation and Ambient Sound

1. Passive Noise Isolation: The over-ear design and memory foam ear cushions provide effective passive noise isolation, reducing ambient noise for an immersive listening experience. This feature enhances audio clarity and allows users to enjoy music without external distractions in noisy environments.

Features and Functionality

The Xiaomi Mi Headphones Pro HD integrate practical features that enhance usability, convenience, and audio performance for discerning users.

In-line Remote and Microphone

1. Remote Control: The headphones feature an in-line remote control with playback buttons for managing music playback, adjusting volume, and answering calls without accessing the connected device.
2. High-Quality Microphone: An integrated microphone ensures clear voice capture for hands-free calls and voice commands, supporting seamless communication during phone calls and online meetings.

Compatibility and Connectivity

1. Universal Compatibility: The Mi Headphones Pro HD are compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and audio players equipped with a standard 3.5mm audio jack. This universal compatibility ensures versatility and ease of use across different platforms and operating systems.
2. Audio Cable Options: The headphones support both wired and wireless connectivity options, offering flexibility for users who prefer wired connections for maximum audio fidelity or wireless convenience via Bluetooth adapters.

Comfort and Fit

Comfort is a priority in the design of the Xiaomi Mi Headphones Pro HD, ensuring prolonged wearability without compromising on audio performance.

Ear-cup Cushions

1. Memory Foam Padding: The over-ear ear cups feature plush memory foam padding that conforms to the contours of the ears, providing a comfortable and secure seal. This design minimizes pressure points and enhances passive noise isolation, allowing users to enjoy extended listening sessions without discomfort.
2. Breathable Materials: The ear cushions are covered in breathable materials that facilitate airflow and dissipate heat, preventing moisture buildup and ensuring comfort during prolonged use.

4. Sony ExtraBass MDR-XB55AP

Of course, this list is indispensable for Sony brand’s earphones, most notably the MDR-XB55AP model. With a sophisticated design, luxurious design, and various colors from white, blue, red, to black, you can choose according to your taste.

The compact size, lightweight, allows you to easily fold into a pocket or backpack to carry with you on the go. Moreover, Sony MDR-XB55AP can be compatible with all devices such as smartphones, tablets, PCs, laptops, or lossless MP3 players …

The cable has a length of about 1.2m and is effective against tangles thanks to its high-quality, long-lasting material. The headset includes an accessory set that includes a cloth bag, soft ear cushions, and long straps.

Built-in online conversation microphone and convenient controller, you can comfortably receive calls and transfer songs quickly without having to touch the smartphone directly.

The frequency range of 4Hz – 24000Hz, combined with the sensitivity of 110dB / mW, will produce powerful bass, depth, and stability. That will surely bring you moments of entertainment and a completely new audio experience.

where can you get a Sony ExtraBass MDR-XB55AP online

Sony MDR-XB55AP Premium in-Ear Extra Bass Headphones with Mic (Black): Buy it now

Design and Build Quality

The Sony ExtraBass MDR-XB55AP headphones combine functional design with durability, catering to users who prioritize enhanced bass response and robust construction.

Aesthetics and Materials

1. Compact Design: The MDR-XB55AP features a sleek and lightweight design that emphasizes portability and everyday usability. The compact form factor makes these headphones ideal for commuting, workouts, and daily use, ensuring convenience without sacrificing style.
2. Quality Construction: Sony employs high-quality materials in the construction of the MDR-XB55AP, including durable plastics and metal components that enhance durability and reliability. The headphones are designed to withstand regular wear and tear, making them suitable for active lifestyles.

Comfort and Fit

1. Silicone Ear-tips: The headphones come with hybrid silicone ear-tips in multiple sizes (small, medium, large), ensuring a secure and comfortable fit for various ear shapes. The ergonomic design of the ear-tips enhances passive noise isolation and bass response, optimizing the listening experience in noisy environments.
2. Tangle-free Cable: The MDR-XB55AP features a flat, tangle-free cable design that enhances durability and convenience. The cable’s anti-tangle properties make it easy to store and use without the hassle of untangling knots, ideal for users on the go.

Audio Quality

The Sony ExtraBass MDR-XB55AP headphones prioritize bass performance while maintaining clarity and detail across the audio spectrum.

ExtraBass Technology

1. Enhanced Bass Response: The MDR-XB55AP is equipped with Sony’s ExtraBass technology, which enhances low-frequency reproduction for deep, punchy bass notes. This feature appeals to users who enjoy genres like hip-hop, EDM, and rock, where bass impact is a critical aspect of the listening experience.
2. Sound Clarity: Despite its emphasis on bass, the headphones maintain clarity in midrange and treble frequencies, ensuring vocals and instrumentals are well-defined and balanced. This balanced sound signature caters to a wide range of music genres and multimedia content.

Driver Size and Performance

1. 12mm Neodymium Drivers: The headphones utilize 12mm neodymium drivers to deliver dynamic sound with powerful bass and clear highs. The drivers’ size and design optimize efficiency and performance, enhancing overall audio fidelity and immersion.

Noise Isolation and Ambient Sound

1. Passive Noise Isolation: The MDR-XB55AP’s silicone ear-tips provide effective passive noise isolation, reducing ambient noise and external distractions for an immersive listening experience. This feature enhances bass response and ensures clarity, allowing users to enjoy music without interference from surrounding sounds.

Features and Functionality

The Sony ExtraBass MDR-XB55AP headphones integrate practical features that enhance usability and convenience for everyday use.

In-line Remote Control and Microphone

1. Hands-free Control: The headphones feature an in-line remote control with playback buttons for managing music playback, adjusting volume, and answering calls without accessing the connected device.
2. Integrated Microphone: An integrated microphone allows for clear voice capture during phone calls and voice commands, ensuring seamless communication and hands-free convenience.

Compatibility and Connectivity

1. Universal Compatibility: The MDR-XB55AP headphones are compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and portable media players equipped with a standard 3.5mm audio jack. This universal compatibility ensures versatility and ease of use across different platforms and operating systems.
2. Smartphone Compatibility: The headphones are optimized for use with smartphones, offering compatibility with both Android and iOS devices for seamless audio playback and call management.

Comfort and Fit

Comfort is a key consideration in the design of the Sony ExtraBass MDR-XB55AP headphones, ensuring prolonged wearability without compromising on audio performance.

Secure Fit

1. Hybrid Silicone Ear-tips: The headphones include hybrid silicone ear-tips in multiple sizes to accommodate various ear shapes and sizes. The ergonomic design of the ear-tips ensures a secure fit that enhances bass response and passive noise isolation, optimizing the listening experience in different environments.
2. Lightweight Design: The lightweight construction of the MDR-XB55AP contributes to comfort during extended use, minimizing ear fatigue and ensuring a comfortable fit for users on the move.

5. Apple Airpods Wireless MMEF2ZA / A

If you ask us the best, premium, and best in-ear headset on the market, our answer will naturally be Apple’s Airpods MMEF2ZA / A.

This headset has many similarities with the old version of Earpod; the only noticeable difference in design is that the signal wire has been removed to help the product become much more sophisticated. 

The high degree of finish with high-end and durable PP plastic outer shell, taking white as the main color tone, so the product looks very fashionable. Lightweight ear cushions to hold the wearer’s ear and hold tightly throughout use.

With the proximity sensor integrated on each side of the headset, this is smart touch technology. It can rely on each user’s reaction to automatically turn on the appropriate features to meet the needs.

Equipped with quite a large capacity, you can freely enjoy music for 5 hours or talk freely with friends for 2 hours with just one charge. Supports a Lightning connection and fast charging in just 15 minutes.

In terms of sound, Apple Airpods provide good, clear, and vivid sound quality. Siri virtual assistant is the most noticeable difference compared to other earbuds in the market.

Design and Build Quality

The Apple AirPods Wireless (MMEF2ZA/A) exemplify Apple’s signature blend of minimalist design and cutting-edge technology, offering a seamless user experience in a compact form factor.

Aesthetics and Materials

1. Iconic Design: The AirPods feature a distinctive, streamlined design with a white glossy finish that complements Apple’s aesthetic philosophy. The earbuds’ compact size and lightweight construction contribute to their portability and modern appeal, making them a fashion statement as well as a functional accessory.
2. High-Quality Construction: Apple uses premium materials in the construction of the AirPods, ensuring durability and a polished appearance. The earbuds are crafted from high-density plastics that provide a balance of lightweight comfort and robustness, suitable for daily use and travel.

Comfort and Fit

1. Universal Fit: The AirPods are designed to fit comfortably in most users’ ears, thanks to their ergonomic shape and lightweight design. The absence of ear hooks or silicone tips contributes to a universal fit that minimizes discomfort during extended wear, appealing to users who prioritize convenience and ease of use.
2. Stability: Despite their minimalist design, the AirPods offer a secure fit that remains stable during light physical activities such as walking or commuting. The earbuds’ lightweight construction and ergonomic contouring ensure they stay in place without the need for additional support mechanisms.

Audio Quality

The Apple AirPods Wireless (MMEF2ZA/A) deliver a balanced sound profile that emphasizes clarity and detail while providing a wireless listening experience.

Driver Technology

1. Custom Apple W1 Chip: The AirPods feature Apple’s custom-designed W1 chip, which optimizes wireless connectivity and enhances audio performance. The W1 chip enables efficient power management and seamless integration with Apple devices, ensuring reliable wireless audio transmission without latency issues.
2. Enhanced Bass and Treble: Despite their compact size, the AirPods deliver impressive sound quality with balanced bass response and clear treble frequencies. The earbuds’ drivers are tuned to reproduce detailed audio across various music genres, providing a dynamic listening experience that appeals to a wide range of listeners.

Adaptive Noise Cancellation

1. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): The AirPods Pro are equipped with active noise cancellation technology, which uses external and internal microphones to detect and counter ambient noise. This feature creates a quieter listening environment by actively canceling out background sounds, enhancing audio clarity and immersion.
2. Transparency Mode: In addition to ANC, the AirPods Pro feature Transparency mode, which allows external sounds to be heard while wearing the earbuds. This mode enhances situational awareness, making it ideal for users who need to hear their surroundings without removing the earbuds.

Features and Functionality

The Apple AirPods Wireless (MMEF2ZA/A) integrate innovative features that enhance usability, connectivity, and overall user experience.

Seamless Device Integration

1. Apple Ecosystem Compatibility: The AirPods seamlessly integrate with Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches. The earbuds automatically pair with devices signed in to the same iCloud account, allowing for effortless switching between devices and instant audio playback.
2. Siri Integration: The AirPods feature built-in support for Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, enabling hands-free access to voice commands and controls. Users can activate Siri by double-tapping on the earbuds or using voice commands for tasks such as adjusting volume, making calls, or getting directions.

Touch Controls

1. Gesture Controls: The AirPods Pro feature touch-sensitive surfaces on the stems of the earbuds, allowing users to control playback, adjust volume, and manage calls with intuitive gestures. Touch controls enhance convenience and usability, eliminating the need to use a connected device for basic audio adjustments.
2. Customizable Controls: Users can customize touch controls through the Settings app on compatible Apple devices, tailoring gesture responses to personal preferences and usage habits. This customization feature enhances user interaction with the AirPods Pro, adapting to individual needs and preferences.

Comfort and Fit

Comfort is a key consideration in the design of the Apple AirPods Wireless (MMEF2ZA/A), ensuring prolonged wearability without compromising on audio performance.

Ergonomic Design

1. Universal Fit: The AirPods feature a one-size-fits-most design that accommodates various ear shapes and sizes. The absence of ear tips or hooks simplifies the fitting process, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit for most users.
2. Lightweight Construction: The AirPods’ lightweight construction enhances comfort during extended wear, minimizing ear fatigue and discomfort. The earbuds’ ergonomic contouring and balanced weight distribution contribute to a stable fit that remains secure during light physical activities.

What are In-Ear headphones?

In-ear headphones or earbuds are headphones designed with an audio tube to be inserted into the inside of the wearer’s ear.

An in-ear headset will be made up of several parts:

• The outer housing covering the inside components
• Driver parts for making a sound
• Audio nozzle tube
• Filter dust

Differences between in-ear headphones and earbuds: They are both earbuds, only differ in structure. For example, in-ear headphones use nozzle tubes to direct sound, while earbud headphones use a layer of filter to emit sound and also have a silicon ear cushion for a sense of smoothness.

Compared to earbuds, in-ear headphones are often more common. Partly because they are quite diverse types of models and rich in price helps users have more choices to serve different purposes.

Here are some important criteria you need to grasp if you want to choose quality earbuds suitable for use and economy.

Advice to buy the best in-ear headphones

A. Suitable for use needs

To choose an appropriate earphone, you need to understand what your purpose is. What will you use the headset?

Needs learning, listening to music for entertainment, radio, or when exercising sports. For each different need, the choice may not be the same.

For example, suppose you regularly exercise like swimming. In that case, you will need to pay attention to the wireless earbuds that use via Bluetooth and support water-resistant features like Sony MDR-XB80BS or Sony WF-SP700N …

B. Luxurious style, design, and delicate colors

The next factor you’ll notice, of course, is the look and feel of the headphones. Who among us does not love beauty?

Whether the product has good sound quality or not, look at the beautiful design and stylish design; most of them will like it right away. Almost all brands can meet this criterion.

In-ear earphones in the market have very eye-catching designs, compact designs, and many different colors for users to freely choose according to each personal preference.

You will want the headphones you choose to have a good level of finish in terms of design, such as adding silicon ear cushions to create soft and not hurt ears when worn for long periods.

If the product is a wired product, the position you need to pay attention to is durable; on the strap have integrated volume adjustment buttons or conversation?

If you love the neat and unobtrusive way of wearing it, the wireless Bluetooth in-ear headphones may be a better choice than wired headphones.

C. The sound quality matches the preferences

Depending on your listening preferences to choose the headset with the corresponding sound. In general, most in-ear earphones are equipped with strong, full bass so they can meet all kinds of music from gentle to vibrant like Pop, Ballad, EDM, or Rock.

If you regularly listen to EDM electronic music, it is impossible to ignore the Sony EXTRA BASS product and speakers.

D. Ability to connect, compatible with devices

In the past, earphones could only be connected to a smartphone, tablet, or laptop devices via the 3.5mm jack, but so far, in-ear headphones have been supported with Bluetooth wireless ports. Convenient and unobtrusive compared to a wired connection.

E. Outstanding noise resistance

In addition to considering water resistance, major brands such as Sony and Xiaomi also started to care about the durability of their products by integrating many superior noise-canceling technologies.

These headphones are very effective in soundproofing the external environment; when using specialized anti-noise resistance headphones, you do not need to turn on the volume too loud to enjoy all the great sounds. It also helps protect your ears a lot better.

Noise-canceling in-ear headphones often have relatively high prices, so they are used by artists or gamers.

One of the best noise-canceling in-ear headphones on the market today is the Sony WF-1000X.